Pottery business celebrates milestone with new workshops

A former primary school teacher is marking three years of success in her pottery business with plans to expand her workshops to support workplace wellbeing.

Amy Rutherford Ceramics, based in Boldon in South Tyneside, specialises in wheel-thrown pottery and offers workshops for adults and children to create handmade pieces such as mugs, vases, plant pots, cake stands, tapas dishes and pet bowls.

Amy, who launched the business during the pandemic in 2021, has combined her teaching background with a ceramics degree to provide a creative and therapeutic outlet for participants.

She said: “The pandemic made me think about what I really wanted to do.

“I knew I loved making pottery and find it very relaxing, so I bit the bullet and set up the business.

“It’s grown better than I ever expected and there’s a real appetite to get hands-on with clay at the workshops.”

“While running the workshops over the past couple of years my customers have kept telling me they find making pottery incredibly calming.

“Handling and modelling clay and using a potter’s wheel means they must focus on the present moment so it’s a great way to improve mental wellbeing.”

Amy is looking to expand her offerings to include corporate workshops aimed at enhancing employee wellbeing, as UK businesses face rising workplace sickness costs.

Research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimates an additional £30 billion annual cost to businesses due to reduced productivity and increased sick days since 2018.

Amy added: “This report suggests that businesses need to invest in health and wellness initiatives to enhance employee wellbeing while improving productivity and profitability.

“Studies show crafts can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, so I’m excited to provide workshops to complement any corporate wellness programme and give participants the chance to improve their own mental wellbeing.”

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